June 24, 2018

The Granite City Sectional in St. Cloud ended yesterday. Results are not available yet; they'll be posted as soon as available.

In the meantime, however, Steve Gaynor was kind enough to report a most entertaining "fish tale" from the tournament. Think that age 91 is simply too old to be still playing winning bridge? Then you are not familiar with Peder Langsetmo! Steve presents the super story below.

Thanks for the story, Steve! And Peder - you keep on baiting the hook!

HE'S THE FISHERMAN; I'M THE FISH - YOU'LL SEE, KER-PLOP!

Playing in the 25 table pair/team game at the St Cloud Sectional on Friday we came up against Peder Langsetmo and his son Arne. Peder, with over 10,000 masterpoints and a Platinum Life Master, is now 91 years old and has been around a long time winning events. He has always been an imaginative player. Arne does not have as much experience at the game, but his dad has shown him some of the finer points and Arne has picked them up quite well.

What would you do? I am thinking I have the ‘death holding’ in diamonds (2 small) and a couple of Aces. 5 spades looks like it may be a bit rich and partner must have a trick over there for her bid.... So with two aces, I double.

I have long preached that when a good player makes what looks like a bad bid, he has a surprise up his sleeve. So he does.

Peder took a bit of a risk that we may pass out 4D, but he was pretty sure I had some spades and values. Thus, he envisioned me bidding so he could reel me in with his 5D call.

I swallowed the bait hook, line, and sinker. Dummy was void in spades and had good hearts and clubs. When diamonds went 2-2, I could take my two aces, but nothing else.

June 23, 2018

When one of our state's very long time members and volunteers exits this earth, it impacts many in our bridge world. Larry Huiras kindly shares a wonderful memory that he and his wife Patti experienced with Gus.

Thank you, Larry! And - a few more shots of Gus and his grandson caddies below!

What I Learned From Gus

My charming wife Patti and I had just returned to tournament play after a 13 year hiatus and found ourselves at the Gopher Regional. In a pairs game we sit down East-West against Gus Doty and his often partner, Lou Ahlberg. After chatting a bit to catch up, sitting East I pick up:

♠ K7, ♥ QT97, ♦ K43, ♣ QJ32.

Lou sitting South opens the auction with a Pass. Partner bids 1♦ and Gus overcalls 1♠. I Double, South Passes, Partner bids 2♣ and Gus bids 2♠ - which I have since called the "Gus Doty Bid!"

The auction continues:

Pass - Pass - 3♣ - 3♠ -

4♣ - Pass - Pass - 4♠-

Dbl - Pass - Pass - Pass.

I lead a heart (a diamond would have been better). There was nothing to the play. Gus made 4♠ doubled for 790 and a top board with the rest of the field in 4♠ making 4.

Here is the full deal:

Lou Patti Gus Larry

P 1♦ 1♠ Dbl

P 2♣ 2♠ P

P 3♣ 3♠ 4♣

P P 4♠ Dbl

P P P

I asked Gus why he didn't bid 4 ♠ directly over 2 clubs. Gus said he was hoping to get doubled in 4♠! Hence, I call it the "Gus Doty Bid".

June 21, 2018

Gus Doty has been an integral part of bridge in Minnesota for as long as your webmaster can recall. Gus was an active player and a committed volunteer. Tournament organizer, representative for many years of bridge administration - grandfather to great caddies .... Gus did it all!

Now, unfortunately, we must say goodbye to Gus. We lost him on June 17th; his funeral is schedule for this Saturday in St. Charles. Gus' obituary is here.

Gus competed - Gus volunteered and adjudicated - Gus served up the pizza and so much more!

Gus - big thanks to you for all you did for Minnesota bridge for years and years. You shall be missed greatly!

Jenny Peterson is an ACBL member since 2010 and faithful ‘499-er player at the Twin City Bridge Center. Recently, Jenny shared with us information about some Bridge Programs offered by Road Scholar, the non-for-profit educational travel organization (RoadScholar.org).

For 10 years, Jenny has been a group leader for Road Scholar and recently assisted with the Carmel Valley Road Scholar program listed below.

Combine travel, bridge, education AND fun all at once! If you have questions about Road Scholar or these bridge programs specifically, feel free to contact her 612. 310-4429. More info on the pdf below.

June 11, 2018

Roger Anderson is wonderful at sending me little bridge tidbits now and then. His latest gifts are some photos from a few years back - 41 to be specific!

Shots of some of our best and brightest circa 1977. It was a very good year!

Thanks, Rog!

Back when ACBL's Bulletins reported on sectional tournaments!

Some of our old timers will recognize a few of these players. Your webmaster is an "old timer" - yet even I only am familiar with some in the photo.

Jim Hugstad - "Z" as he was fondly known ... along with Iowa's famous "Hip Shooter".

Dave McGee was also President of the ACBL some years back. A character and a very talented player!

Four of our top Minnesota players when they were youngsters!

Only Terry Borne still resides in the Land O'Lakes....

And a shot of the famous "Rangers" - one of Minnesota's very tough teams back in the day.

Three of the Rangers have lived in Chicago for many years - Steve Garner, Dick Melson and Dave Lehman. We still see Steve's name up in lights quite frequently. Dick and Dave show up now and then at NABC's.

Howie Weinstein is now residing in California. Still a super player and involved in other aspects of bridge, too.

Larry Oakey? I assume most of us are like me; we shall miss this fabulous player and super person 'till the end of our days....

A wonderful "blast from the past", Roger .... and a lot of "when we were young" too!

June 05, 2018

In addition to a fun town - Memphis is a great spot for a North American Bridge Championship! And next year - Memphis is the spot for our Spring NABC.

It's also the place where North American Pair contestants can compete against their peers from all over ACBL-land - and perhaps end up THE winner in their field.

Diane Henson, our District 14 coordinator for NAP's has given us a wealth of information about the 2018-2019 North American Pairs. A flyer for the coming season, a fact sheet and District 14's Conditions of Contest are all posted below. Be sure to read through Diane's overview - and check out all the extra info, too!

2018-2019 NAP Qualifying Games Start June 1st at Your Local Clubs

Play in a local qualifying game during the months of June, July, and August to qualify to play in the District Finals in October. All games are extra point games.

District Finals will be at the Edina Senior Center in Edina, MN Oct. 6-7, 2018.

Your chances of winning money to help pay for your trip to the national NAP in March 2018 in Memphis include a higher subsidy, courtesy of District 14! There will 11 winning pairs representing District 14 at the spring NABC in Memphis.

1st Place winners receive $700 each ($1400 for the pair) plus paid entry fees at the NABC

2nd Place winners receive $500 each ($1000 for the pair) plus paid entry fees at the NABC

3rd Place winners receive $350 each ($700 for the pair) plus paid entry fees at the NABC

June 04, 2018

Our thanks to Linda Brammer for sending us Unit 178's Board of Directors May minutes and June agenda (below).

We also wish to heartily thank outgoing board members Steve Gaynor, Diane Henson and Linda Brammer for their service. Additionally, we welcome new board members Richard Cottle, John Schlundt and Judy Hansen.